OAFVC Blog

Don't Make This Common Food Packaging Mistake

After developing and testing your food or beverage product, the last thing you want to worry about is packaging. But as we’ve covered before, establishing good packaging practices keeps your product fresh and safe, and promotes and establishes your brand.

First and foremost: never make a decision about food packaging that could put your consumers at risk; your food packaging should always have food safety in mind, so make sure you stay up-to-date on labelling regulations. But once you’ve established this, there's something else you shouldn't put at risk: the environment.

Reduce the Environmental Risk of This Common Food Packaging Mistake

Too Many Layers

You've probably seen it before at the grocery store: food that is wrapped in too many layers of non-biodegradable materials (unfortunately, individually wrapped bananas are a thing), and you know all that plastic will go into a landfill and sit there for years.

Using too much packaging is a common food packaging mistake, and it’s not just bad for the environment, it's also bad for your business. It costs a lot more to pay for layers of materials, and it may also turn people off from trying your product. Nowadays,more people are making choices based on criteria other than just taste, and a growing number of Canadians are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products.

Not only might you consider reducing the number of layers of packaging you’re including, but consider looking at alternative packaging materials as well, like using recycled plastics or cardboard. If you do make some eco-friendly choices in your packaging, it’s worth sharing that information with your customers — preferably on your labelling. It’s a great way to advertise beyond the great taste of your product that you’re also environmentally conscious.

Getting Packaging Advice

There can be a lot of factors to consider when switching to new packaging. Reducing the number of layers could save you money, but it may also compromise the safety of your product. It’s worth talking to an advisory board about what your options are, and to see if there are any innovative packaging options which best reflect your product and brand.

OAFVC offers assistance with food-packaging-development, and as a municipal organization, we’re not for profit, so our rates are affordable and our advice is designed to help you succeed.

To help you out, we’ve also designed a free checklist to help you plan your business strategy. Download it to get started on growing your small business today.